A high performance direct borohydride fuel cell using bipolar interfaces and noble metal-free Ni-based anodes

Braesch, Guillaume; Wang, Zhongyang; Sankarasubramanian, Shrihari; Oshchepkov, Alexandr G.; Bonnefont, Antoine; Savinova, Elena R.; Ramani, Vijay; Chatenet, Marian

doi:10.1039/d0ta06405j

Cited by 37 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Metallic Ni is an interesting catalyst in that extent, because it enables to lower the low-potential H2 production, hence enabling higher voltage DBFC operation than Pt (Figure 4B), but is incapable to valorize the H2 it produces, leading to non-negligible H2-escape (Figure 4E). To manage properly H2 production and escape, materials strategy are advantageously complemented by engineering ones [34,52,53,65].…”

Section: Stability Of Dbfc Performance and Durability Of Dbfc Catalystsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct borohydride fuel cells: A selected review of their reaction mechanisms, electrocatalysts, and influence of operating parameters on their performance

Oshchepkov

Bonnefont

Maranzana

et al. 2022

Current Opinion in Electrochemistry

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Direct borohydride fuel cells (DBFC) oxidize an easily-stored energy-dense borohydride fuel (sodium borohydride: NaBH4), that in theory reacts ca. 400 mV below H2 and produce 8 electrons per BH4anion. However, the borohydride oxidation reaction (BOR) does not fully meet these promises in practice: the electrocatalyst nature, structure and state-of-surface, and the operating conditions (pH, BH4concentration, temperature, fluxes) noticeably influence the BOR kinetics and mechanism. Nickel and platinum-based catalysts both have assets for the BOR. DBFCs can only yield decent performance if their separator combines high ionconductivity and efficient separation of the reactants; cation-exchange membranes, anionexchange membranes, bipolar membranes and porous separators all have their own advantages and drawbacks. Besides the anode, the choice of separator must consider the DBFC cathode reaction, where oxygen (air) or hydrogen peroxide are reduced, provided adapted catalysts are used. All these aspects drive the DBFC performance and stability/durability.

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Section: Stability Of Dbfc Performance and Durability Of Dbfc Catalystsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct borohydride fuel cells: A selected review of their reaction mechanisms, electrocatalysts, and influence of operating parameters on their performance

Oshchepkov

Bonnefont

Maranzana

et al. 2022

Current Opinion in Electrochemistry

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“…[14] The PMBI configuration, which creates a local pH gradient on the anode (high pH), opens a new way to obtain remarkable performance (0.63 W cm −2 ). [15,16,24] In addition, the state-of-the-art DBFC performance was further improved by reactant-transport engineering (0.89 W cm −2 ). [15] However, their design involves a high-cost Pd catalyst at the anode side, which limits practicability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selective Borohydride Oxidation Reaction on Nickel Catalyst with Anion and Cation Exchange Ionomer for High‐Performance Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells

Lombardo

et al. 2022

Advanced Energy Materials

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Direct borohydride fuel cells (DBFCs) operate with liquid H2O2 and a high‐energy‐density NaBH4 solution. A facile, direct synthesis method using a non‐noble nickel catalyst for the DBFC anode is shown. The complex anode reaction with an anion‐exchange ionomer (AEI) and a cation‐exchange ionomer (CEI) is evaluated in half‐cell and single‐cell configurations. The ionomer type produces high (AEI) or low local pH (CEI) at the active site of the catalyst in the single‐cell configuration, generating different catalytic reactions. The performance of the nickel catalyst is compared to that of a palladium catalyst. The selective catalytic activities for the borohydride oxidation reaction and hydrogen oxidation reaction are the key parameters for achieving good performance. Furthermore, fuel utilization and H2 evolution measurement in a single‐cell configuration provide more information on the complex anode reaction in the DBFC. The nickel catalyst with CEI on nickel foam (NiF@CEI‐Ni) shows the highest DBFC peak power density (0.59 W cm−2) with a non‐noble metal anode catalyst.

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“…Alloying or mixing d-group metals (e.g., Ir, Sn, Ni, Ni-Cu, , or Ni-Co) with Pd metal has resulted in an increase in the activity and selectivity of BOR. Among the earth-abundant metals, Ni favors a strong dissociative adsorption of BH 4 – . ,, However, the dissociation energy of BH 4 – on Ni is higher (more positive) than that of Pd, which leads to a lower hydrolysis rate and consequently to a lower probability of active-site poisoning on Ni surfaces . Furthermore, Ni exhibits a low BOR overpotential, although its activity varies depending upon the oxidation state of surface Ni atoms. − Preservation of metallic states on the surface of Ni yield high BOR activity, whereas surface oxidation leads to a lowering of the BOR activity. ,, This suggests that a bimetallic electrocatalyst composed of Pd and Ni will yield a high current density with a high Faradaic efficiency because of a lower hydrolysis reaction rate and a lower probability of electrocatalyst poisoning.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Bimetallic PdNi Electrocatalysts toward Mitigation of Catalyst Poisoning in Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells

et al. 2021

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Cost-effective and highly active borohydride oxidation reaction (BOR) electrocatalysts are crucial for the advancement of direct borohydride fuel cells (DBFCs). Noble-metal electrocatalysts, such as Pd, are used as benchmark electrocatalysts because of their superior BOR activity. However, Pd suffers from catalyst poisoning because of strong binding with BH x intermediates at a high BOR overpotential, making it unsuitable for high DBFC performance, whereas Ni exhibits a low degree of catalyst poisoning because of a relatively weak binding of BH x intermediates. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate a lowering of H-and OH-binding energies on bimetallic PdNi surfaces in comparison to their individual counterparts, thereby freeing more sites for BH 4 adsorption that is crucial for a high BOR rate. The as-synthesized bimetallic PdNi/C electrocatalyst exhibits higher current densities at a BH 4 concentration range of 50−500 mM than Pd/C and Ni/C. A DBFC unit with a pH-gradientenabled microscale bipolar interface employing PdNi/C, Pt/C, and H 2 O 2 as the anode, cathode, and oxidant, respectively, exhibits a power density of 466 ± 1.5 mW/cm 2 at 1.5 V, a peak power density of 630 ± 2 mW/cm 2 at 1.1 V, with an open-circuit voltage of 1.95 ± 0.01 V. Our bimetallic alloy electrocatalyst shows high DBFC performance, providing a pathway for the development of suitable BOR electrocatalysts.

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A high performance direct borohydride fuel cell using bipolar interfaces and noble metal-free Ni-based anodes

Abstract: Due to its unmatched theoretical voltage of 2.18 V, direct alkaline fuel cell using sodium borohydride solution at the anode and hydrogen peroxide at the cathode, represents a promising power...

Cited by 37 publications

References 58 publications

Direct borohydride fuel cells: A selected review of their reaction mechanisms, electrocatalysts, and influence of operating parameters on their performance

Direct borohydride fuel cells: A selected review of their reaction mechanisms, electrocatalysts, and influence of operating parameters on their performance

Selective Borohydride Oxidation Reaction on Nickel Catalyst with Anion and Cation Exchange Ionomer for High‐Performance Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells

Development of Bimetallic PdNi Electrocatalysts toward Mitigation of Catalyst Poisoning in Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells

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